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Expedition Guide

Dismass Mariki

Dismass Mariki is a 30-year-old, licensed guide who has climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro 176 times. He became inspired by the "White Mountain" while in secondary school, and paid for college by working as an assistant guide on the mountain. In 2003, he completed intensive training with Kilimanjaro National Park to become a head guide.

Travel Facts

Country Name

Tanzania

Capital

Dodoma

Coordinates

6 00 S, 35 00 E

Area

• Total: 945,087 sq km
• Land: 886,037 sq km
• Water: 59,050 sq km

Elevation Extremes

• Low: Indian Ocean 0 m
• High: Kilimanjaro 5,895 m

Population

37,849,133

Demonym

Tanzanian

Climate

Month	High	Low	Rain
Jan	89	73	0.93
Feb	90	74	0.97
Mar	90	75	1.28
Apr	88	75	4.08
May	85	73	6.80
Jun	83	70	2.73
Jul	82	68	1.95
Aug	82	68	1.76
Sep	83	69	1.35
Oct	85	71	3.37
Nov	87	73	2.92
Dec	89	74	2.30

Time Zone

EAT (UTC+3)

Currency

Tanzanian shilling (TZS)

Voltage

230 V; Plugs D & G

Calling Code

+255

Mount Kilimanjaro: The Lemosho Route to the Summit

• Expedition Type [ Mountain Trekking ]
• Difficulty [ Strenuous ]
• Activities [ Camping, Hiking, Rock Climbing ]
• Duration [ 10 Days ]

Expedition Timeline

Day 1

Arrive Arusha, Tanzania

You are welcomed at Kilimanjaro International Airport by an A&K representative and transferred to Mountain Village.

Mountain Village Lodge

Day 2

Arusha National Park

Arusha National Park is an outstandingly beautiful area lying between the peaks of Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Meru, and an ideal environment in which to adapt to the demands of higher altitudes. Set out on an acclimatizing hike through the forest, accompanied by an armed ranger. Later tonight, debrief on the days hike and review the upcoming days itinerary with your expedition teammates at a welcome dinner.

Hiking Time: Approximately 3 hours, Arusha National Park

Mountain Village Lodge [ B L D ]

Day 3

Mountain Village Lodge/Mount Kilimanjaro/Forest Camp

After breakfast, drive to the Lemosho Glades at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro. Here your team registers for your climb at the Londrosi Gate. After registering, drive for another hour to reach the trailhead. Hike for about four hours through dense rubber and juniper trees, St. Johns flowers, giant fig and dense forests up to the camp.

Hiking time: 5 hours (Trailhead to Forest Camp)

Forest Camp [ B L D ]

Day 4

Forest Camp/Shira 1 Camp

Awaken to magnificent views of the Great Rift Valley. With abundant bird life all around you, trek out of the forest and up into the hagenia zone through a savannah of tall grasses and bearded heather. The highlight of today’s hike is the ghostly landscape of volcanic lava, caves and foamy streams framed by giant groundsels.

Hiking Time: 7 hours (Forest Camp to Mt. Ngare, 4 hours; Mt. Ngare to Shira 1 Camp, 3 hours)

Shira 1 Camp [ B L D ]

Day 5

Shira 1 Camp/Shira 2 Camp

Wake this morning with a breathtaking view. After breaking camp, hike for approximately four hours through the immense alpine heather zone, approaching Kibo massif from the west and moving steadily upward to Shira 2 Camp, where you have lunch and spend the night.

Hiking Time: 4 hours (Shira 1 Camp to weather station near Shira 2)

Shira 2 Camp [ B L D ]

Day 6

Shira 2 Camp/Barranco Camp

Leave camp this morning and hike up to the Lava Tower, a three-hour trek. Of the many deep gorges (barrancos) carved into the soft rocks and ashes of Kilimanjaro, the most impressive is the Great Barranco below the Western Breach (15,100 feet above sea level). Here you are dwarfed by the immense size of Lava Tower, a freestanding weathered rock measuring 325 feet in height. Hiking Time: 5.5 hours (Shira 2 to Lava Tower, 3 hours; Lava Tower to Barranco Camp, 2.5 hours)

Barranco Camp [ B L D ]

Day 7

Barranco Camp/Barafu Camp

After breakfast, acclimatize with a hike up to the Great Barranco Wall, a journey of about two hours. Continue to Karanga Camp for rest and lunch. After lunch, a three-hour hike brings you to Barafu Camp, where you spend the night.

Hiking Time: 7 hours (Barranco Camp to Karanga, 4 hours; Karanga to Barafu Camp, 3 hours)

Barafu Camp [ B L D ]

Day 8

Barafu Camp/Crater Camp

From your campsite this morning, you may see nearby peaks of the Great Rift Valley revealed in gaps in the cloud cover: Mt. Meru, Longido, Kitumbeni and Oldonio Lengai. Reach the Crater Rim at Stella Point, 19,000 feet above sea level and then descend several hundred feet to the crater floor, where your camp is set up and waiting for you. Spend the remainder of the day resting or exploring nearby; the area offers spectacular views of Furtwangler and Gredner Glaciers.

Hiking Time: 6.5 hours (Barafu to lunch, 4 hours; lunch to Crater Rim, 2 hours; Crater Rim to Crater Camp, .5 hour)

Crater Camp [ B L D ]

Day 9

Mount Kilimanjaro/ Mweka Camp

Today marks the final stage of your assault on the mountain — the day you summit. Begin the ascent from Crater Camp in the early morning. The steep winding path leads you to the bottom of the scree slope; after a brief rest you will continue to the summit – Uhuru Peak, 19,325 feet above sea level.

Leave the summit and begin your descent through Barafu Camp and Barafu Valley to Mweka Camp, where you spend the night.

Hiking Time: 7.5 hours (Crater to Summit, 1.5 hours; Summit to Barafu Camp, 3 hours; Barafu to Millennium Camp, 1.5 Hours; Millenium Camp to Mweka Camp, 1.5 Hours)

Mweka Camp [ B L D ]

Day 10

Mount Kilimanjaro/Depart Mountain Village

Continue your descent towards Mweka Gate through the Montane Forest filled with age-old trees, flowers, birds and butterflies. At the culmination of the trek, you are transferred to Mountain Village Lodge, where you have a hot lunch on the shore of Lake Duluti, a beautiful green crater lake. Afterward, transfer to the airport for your return home.

Hiking Time: 3 hours, Mweka Camp to Main Mweka Gate

Mountain Village Lodge (dayroom) [ B L ]

I stood at the top of Mount Kilimanjaro, breathing the thin air of a crystal blue sky. Below me stretched the flat plain of Tanzania, almost overwhelming in its vastness. I looked in vain for the tiny spot, thousands of feet down, where our climb had begun.

Departure Dates & Pricing

Various Departure Dates can be arranged. Please tell us your preferred travel dates on the reservation form.